Chad Heiny will be leading the 2020 Design Team at Grapevine High School in the roles of Program Coordinator and Percussion Arranger. Chad, born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is a freelance musician and educator residing in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. A prolific and regularly commissioned composer, Chad has created music for an eclectic collection of ensembles and performers across the globe. His works are published by both Tapspace Publications and C. Alan Publications. He also holds positions as Music Editor with Tapspace Publications, Program coordinator for the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, Percussion Arranger for the Hebron High School Marching Band, and adjudicator for Winter Guard International.
Chad has been a passionate contributor to the pageantry arts since 1999, and prior to his current role as the Program Coordinator at the Blue Knights, he arranged, coordinated, or consulted for several DCI World Championship Finalists including The Cadets, Spirit of Atlanta, Boston Crusaders, and Glassmen. An acclaimed percussion arranger, wind arranger, and program coordinator for high school and collegiate marching bands across the country, Chad’s work throughout the fall has won the hearts and minds of students, staffs, fans, and adjudicators. Accolades include many BOA Regional Championships, three silver medal finishes in Class AA at BOA Grand Nationals, and several state championship performances. He can also be seen walking across Heinz Field on game days as Creative Consultant for the Pittsburgh Steeline.
Chad earned a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Louisiana State University and Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of both the Percussive Arts Society and ASCAP, and is a proud endorser of Majestic Percussion, Innovative Percussion, and Remo Drumheads.
Michael Martin is joining the design team as our 2020 Wind Arranger. Mr. Martin currently serves as the Music Director at the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and is a native of Marietta, Georgia. Mr. Martin became the youngest member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops as Third/Utility trumpet in July 2010, at the age of 24. Mr. Martin attended Northwestern University where he received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Trumpet Performance as a student of Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer. Prior to joining the Boston Symphony, Mr. Martin performed with a diverse array of professional orchestras, chamber ensembles, and performing artists including the Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, and Honolulu symphonies, the Malaysian and Seoul Philharmonics, the Tanglewood Music Center, the Pacific Music Festival, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Axiom Brass, the Burning River Brass, the Pacifica Quartet, “eighth blackbird”, and Sufjan Stevens. As a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Martin can be heard on numerous recordings under Music Director Andris Nelsons, including the BSO’s GRAMMY winning albums featuring the symphonies of Shostakovich.
Mr. Martin has long been devoted to both performing and creating music at the highest artistic level and has become an extremely sought-after musician in both disciplines, forging a unique niche within the world of professional music. After completing his studies at Northwestern University, Mr. Martin was invited to study doctoral-level orchestration at the University of Chicago with renowned conductor and composer, Cliff Colnot. Mr. Martin has collaborated with and been commissioned by members of the Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago Symphonies, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and the University of Houston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Martin’s music for wind ensemble has been performed by collegiate and professional ensembles across the country including the Dallas Winds and the wind ensembles of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, Oklahoma State University, St. Olaf College, the University of Georgia, the University of North Texas, and the University of Texas at Austin and abroad by the Honk Kong Wind Philharmonia.
Mr. Martin is also on faculty as Visiting Professor of Trumpet at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Martin served on the faculty of the New England Conservatory from 2012-2016 and has given master classes at Boston University, Northwestern University, and the University of Texas. Michael Martin is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Matt Filosa joins our team as our Sound Designer. He currently is the front ensemble/Electronics Designer & Coordinator at the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and an Arranger/Sound Designer at Music City Mystique Percussion.
Matt Filosa resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where he serves as the Percussion Director for Melissa High School and Middle School. Matt is the co-owner of the marching arts design company Synced Up Designs, where he writes, designs for, and teaches marching bands and indoor percussion groups all over the country. Matt is the sound designer and front ensemble arranger for several WGI and DCI finalist groups, most notably Percussion Independent World group Music City Mystique (Music/Sound Design), and the Cadets (Audio Caption Head/Sound Designer). Matt earned his Bachelor’s in Percussion Performance from the University of Florida (2007) and Masters in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas (2009). Passionate about the marching arts, it is Matt’s continued goal to inspire, educate, and promote music education and participation in the arts. Matt is endorsed by Innovative Percussion, Pearl/Adams, Evans drum heads, and Sabian Cymbals.
Austin Greene is the Drill Designer for our 2020 production. Austin is currently the Program Facilitator at the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Austin is a professional visual designer and educator from Raleigh, NC. He is regular demand as adjudicator throughout America for Bands of America, Winter Guard International, and numerous local circuits. Austin joined the instructional staff for Blue Knights in 2019 after serving as a visual judge for DCI. Austin previously instructed The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2012-2015 and served as Visual Caption Head from 2014-2015.
Previously, Austin was Director of Bands at Concord High School in Concord, NC, and Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chair at Durham School of the Arts. In 2010, he was hired as an adjunct instructor at the Dublin Institute of Technology’s National Conservatory of Music in Dublin, Ireland. He has served for 10 years as a program consultant and clinician for the Bands of America Grand National Finalist Kennesaw Mountain High School Marching Band. Austin attended Western Carolina University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education in 2003. He went on to earn his Master of Music in Conducting Degree from the University of Connecticut in 2006. He is in regular demand as a designer, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and abroad.
Molly Favret is our Visual Designer. Molly works as the Color Guard Caption Manager & Designer at the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps where she has held the position since 2014. Molly Favret began her color guard career 15 years ago at Pope High School earning two WGI World Championship medals in 2008 and 2009. Her independent marching career began with the 2010 Crown Guard followed by five years of performing with Paramount World Winter Guard since their inaugural season in 2011. After receiving the WGI Scholarship Award in 2012, Molly went on to march her age-out with the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps.
Molly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Kennesaw State University and earned a minor degree in dance. She has been an instructor for high school programs in the Southeast including Allatoona HS (GA), McEachern HS (GA), Ooltewah HS (TN), Pope HS (GA), Wheeler HS (GA) Soddy-Daisy HS (TN) and currently an instructor for the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts.
From 2011-2014 Molly worked in a few roles at Carolina Crown; beginning as a merchandise manager, photographer, graphic designer and was the first social media specialist for Crown in 2013. Most recently, Molly has been managing the social media platforms for both Crossmen Color Guard and Paramount Winter Guard.
Molly runs her own creative design, graphics and consultation business from her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Programs she has recently had the pleasure of designing for include: Boswell HS (TX), Desert Vista HS (AZ), Seymour HS (TN), Soddy Daisy HS (TN), North Shore HS (TX), Rock Island HS (IL), Powell HS (TN), Ooltewah HS (TN), Science Hill HS (TN), Cypress Springs HS (TX), Clear Brook HS (TX), Kettering Fairmont HS (OH), Burleson-Centennial HS (TX) Powdersville HS (SC), Magnolia-West HS (TX), Jamestown HS (NY) and ConneXus (OH).
James Gow joins us as a Choreographer for the 2020 season. James currently works at Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps as the Visual Designer. James is a Southern California native who began his marching career at Vista Murrieta HS before joining Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps (2005-2006) and later going on to march with the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps (2007-2010). As a drill designer, he has worked with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-2018) and is the current visual designer for the Blue Knights (2018-present). He has served as drill designer for multiple high school programs around the country, including Green Hope, Warren, Etiwanda, Foothill, Temecula Valley, and Great Oak HS. James also designs visual programs for scholastic and independent winter drum lines and is currently a choreographer and visual instructor at Broken City Percussion as well as visual designer at Vessel Percussion. As an instructor, he has taught highly competitive groups in the Southern California area including Vista Murrieta, Mission Viejo, Etiwanda, and Fountain Valley High Schools, and serves as the current visual caption head and choreographer for BOA semi-finalist Vista Murrieta HS. He has been a member of the visual staff for the Sacramento Mandarins (2011), The Cadets (2012), and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-2018).
James Gabonay joins the 2020 team as a Choreographer. James Gabonay is the Color Guard Coordinator/Designer at the Spirit of Atlanta. James has led many high schools as both an outdoor and winter color guard director and designer including Norwin High School (7-Time WGI Scholastic World Finalist) and Gateway High School (2014 Scholastic A WGI Finalist). He has also worked with the Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps (DCA) [Designer] as well as the Troopers [Technician]. His marching and performing experiences include Norwin High School, where he currently serves as the director and designer, and the Cavaliers (2012-14). He holds a degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Secondary Education-Social Studies.
Chad has been a passionate contributor to the pageantry arts since 1999, and prior to his current role as the Program Coordinator at the Blue Knights, he arranged, coordinated, or consulted for several DCI World Championship Finalists including The Cadets, Spirit of Atlanta, Boston Crusaders, and Glassmen. An acclaimed percussion arranger, wind arranger, and program coordinator for high school and collegiate marching bands across the country, Chad’s work throughout the fall has won the hearts and minds of students, staffs, fans, and adjudicators. Accolades include many BOA Regional Championships, three silver medal finishes in Class AA at BOA Grand Nationals, and several state championship performances. He can also be seen walking across Heinz Field on game days as Creative Consultant for the Pittsburgh Steeline.
Chad earned a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Louisiana State University and Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of both the Percussive Arts Society and ASCAP, and is a proud endorser of Majestic Percussion, Innovative Percussion, and Remo Drumheads.
Michael Martin is joining the design team as our 2020 Wind Arranger. Mr. Martin currently serves as the Music Director at the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and is a native of Marietta, Georgia. Mr. Martin became the youngest member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops as Third/Utility trumpet in July 2010, at the age of 24. Mr. Martin attended Northwestern University where he received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Trumpet Performance as a student of Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer. Prior to joining the Boston Symphony, Mr. Martin performed with a diverse array of professional orchestras, chamber ensembles, and performing artists including the Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, and Honolulu symphonies, the Malaysian and Seoul Philharmonics, the Tanglewood Music Center, the Pacific Music Festival, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Axiom Brass, the Burning River Brass, the Pacifica Quartet, “eighth blackbird”, and Sufjan Stevens. As a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Martin can be heard on numerous recordings under Music Director Andris Nelsons, including the BSO’s GRAMMY winning albums featuring the symphonies of Shostakovich.
Mr. Martin has long been devoted to both performing and creating music at the highest artistic level and has become an extremely sought-after musician in both disciplines, forging a unique niche within the world of professional music. After completing his studies at Northwestern University, Mr. Martin was invited to study doctoral-level orchestration at the University of Chicago with renowned conductor and composer, Cliff Colnot. Mr. Martin has collaborated with and been commissioned by members of the Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago Symphonies, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and the University of Houston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Martin’s music for wind ensemble has been performed by collegiate and professional ensembles across the country including the Dallas Winds and the wind ensembles of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, Oklahoma State University, St. Olaf College, the University of Georgia, the University of North Texas, and the University of Texas at Austin and abroad by the Honk Kong Wind Philharmonia.
Mr. Martin is also on faculty as Visiting Professor of Trumpet at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Martin served on the faculty of the New England Conservatory from 2012-2016 and has given master classes at Boston University, Northwestern University, and the University of Texas. Michael Martin is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Matt Filosa joins our team as our Sound Designer. He currently is the front ensemble/Electronics Designer & Coordinator at the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and an Arranger/Sound Designer at Music City Mystique Percussion.
Matt Filosa resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where he serves as the Percussion Director for Melissa High School and Middle School. Matt is the co-owner of the marching arts design company Synced Up Designs, where he writes, designs for, and teaches marching bands and indoor percussion groups all over the country. Matt is the sound designer and front ensemble arranger for several WGI and DCI finalist groups, most notably Percussion Independent World group Music City Mystique (Music/Sound Design), and the Cadets (Audio Caption Head/Sound Designer). Matt earned his Bachelor’s in Percussion Performance from the University of Florida (2007) and Masters in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas (2009). Passionate about the marching arts, it is Matt’s continued goal to inspire, educate, and promote music education and participation in the arts. Matt is endorsed by Innovative Percussion, Pearl/Adams, Evans drum heads, and Sabian Cymbals.
Austin Greene is the Drill Designer for our 2020 production. Austin is currently the Program Facilitator at the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. Austin is a professional visual designer and educator from Raleigh, NC. He is regular demand as adjudicator throughout America for Bands of America, Winter Guard International, and numerous local circuits. Austin joined the instructional staff for Blue Knights in 2019 after serving as a visual judge for DCI. Austin previously instructed The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2012-2015 and served as Visual Caption Head from 2014-2015.
Previously, Austin was Director of Bands at Concord High School in Concord, NC, and Director of Bands and Performing Arts Department Chair at Durham School of the Arts. In 2010, he was hired as an adjunct instructor at the Dublin Institute of Technology’s National Conservatory of Music in Dublin, Ireland. He has served for 10 years as a program consultant and clinician for the Bands of America Grand National Finalist Kennesaw Mountain High School Marching Band. Austin attended Western Carolina University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education in 2003. He went on to earn his Master of Music in Conducting Degree from the University of Connecticut in 2006. He is in regular demand as a designer, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and abroad.
Molly Favret is our Visual Designer. Molly works as the Color Guard Caption Manager & Designer at the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps where she has held the position since 2014. Molly Favret began her color guard career 15 years ago at Pope High School earning two WGI World Championship medals in 2008 and 2009. Her independent marching career began with the 2010 Crown Guard followed by five years of performing with Paramount World Winter Guard since their inaugural season in 2011. After receiving the WGI Scholarship Award in 2012, Molly went on to march her age-out with the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps.
Molly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Kennesaw State University and earned a minor degree in dance. She has been an instructor for high school programs in the Southeast including Allatoona HS (GA), McEachern HS (GA), Ooltewah HS (TN), Pope HS (GA), Wheeler HS (GA) Soddy-Daisy HS (TN) and currently an instructor for the Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts.
From 2011-2014 Molly worked in a few roles at Carolina Crown; beginning as a merchandise manager, photographer, graphic designer and was the first social media specialist for Crown in 2013. Most recently, Molly has been managing the social media platforms for both Crossmen Color Guard and Paramount Winter Guard.
Molly runs her own creative design, graphics and consultation business from her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Programs she has recently had the pleasure of designing for include: Boswell HS (TX), Desert Vista HS (AZ), Seymour HS (TN), Soddy Daisy HS (TN), North Shore HS (TX), Rock Island HS (IL), Powell HS (TN), Ooltewah HS (TN), Science Hill HS (TN), Cypress Springs HS (TX), Clear Brook HS (TX), Kettering Fairmont HS (OH), Burleson-Centennial HS (TX) Powdersville HS (SC), Magnolia-West HS (TX), Jamestown HS (NY) and ConneXus (OH).
James Gow joins us as a Choreographer for the 2020 season. James currently works at Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps as the Visual Designer. James is a Southern California native who began his marching career at Vista Murrieta HS before joining Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps (2005-2006) and later going on to march with the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps (2007-2010). As a drill designer, he has worked with Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps (2017-2018) and is the current visual designer for the Blue Knights (2018-present). He has served as drill designer for multiple high school programs around the country, including Green Hope, Warren, Etiwanda, Foothill, Temecula Valley, and Great Oak HS. James also designs visual programs for scholastic and independent winter drum lines and is currently a choreographer and visual instructor at Broken City Percussion as well as visual designer at Vessel Percussion. As an instructor, he has taught highly competitive groups in the Southern California area including Vista Murrieta, Mission Viejo, Etiwanda, and Fountain Valley High Schools, and serves as the current visual caption head and choreographer for BOA semi-finalist Vista Murrieta HS. He has been a member of the visual staff for the Sacramento Mandarins (2011), The Cadets (2012), and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-2018).
James Gabonay joins the 2020 team as a Choreographer. James Gabonay is the Color Guard Coordinator/Designer at the Spirit of Atlanta. James has led many high schools as both an outdoor and winter color guard director and designer including Norwin High School (7-Time WGI Scholastic World Finalist) and Gateway High School (2014 Scholastic A WGI Finalist). He has also worked with the Cadets2 Drum and Bugle Corps (DCA) [Designer] as well as the Troopers [Technician]. His marching and performing experiences include Norwin High School, where he currently serves as the director and designer, and the Cavaliers (2012-14). He holds a degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Secondary Education-Social Studies.